Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 100: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

APPREHENSIONS 83 marked, ‘‘ Yes, the affair has indeed taken a turn which I had little anticipated.” “The idea struck me all in a moment,” observed Sir John, “‘ as I listened at that door. I can’t tell how it was, but it occurred to me, somehow or another, that the visit of this Mr. Gunthorpe was connected with the business we had been talking on. I suppose it was because that business was uppermost in my thoughts at the time. However, such was my impression, and it induced me to listen. Thus you see, Petersfield, that while you, with all your diplomatic astuteness, would have suffered yourself to be crushed down to the dust by that old bully, I got rid of him by riding the high horse and taking the matter with an air of hardihood and effrontery.’’ “Tt is indeed fortunate,’ observed Petersfield, ‘ that we have got rid of this unpleasant affair so easily. But think you we shall hear no more of it? ”’ ‘““T am confident we shall not,’ replied Marston. “I will stake my existence upon it. This Gunthorpe is evidently deep in a certain nobleman’s secrets. Did you see how he was affected? That was at the idea of having to shock his friend,—this certain nobleman,’’ added Marston, malignantly, — “ with an account of Elizabeth’s ways of life. And then, too, there is the necessity of saving Lady Everton’s name from exposure and disgrace, which is another safecuard for us. Had the matter rested alone with Eliza- beth and Frank, we might not have got out of it so comfort- ably. But as it 1s, we are safe, and need trouble ourselves no more upon the matter. I shall even go to Robson and tell him that for the future he need not pay the quarterly allowance to Hlizabeth. It will be four hundred a year in my pocket, and thus altogether my visit to London has terminated most fortunately instead of inauspiciously.”’ ‘But who is this Mr. Gunthorpe, think you?” asked Lord Petersfield. “No matter who he is,” rejoined Marston; “ he has ceased to become an object of terror for us.” With these words the baronet took his leave of the noble- man, and quitted the house in high glee and joyous triumph at the result of the whole adventure. Ss (C(O) EORVICLOOQC)